Flip Video cameras are amazing: small, light, unobtrusive…but when it comes time to edit, it can be really painful.
That’s why I wrote this. I want to get you past the nasty codec part as fast as possible…
***UPDATE***
A reader named Tom Wolfson wrote to me about a different way to do this.
‘You should convert to a standard Final Cut format. You could convert to DV NTSC 720×480 29.97 uncompressed audio 48K, or the PAL equivalent if it shoots in PAL frame rates. If you want higher quality with Final Cut Pro you can convert to ProRes 720×486 29.97 uncompressed audio 48K, but you’ll need a good, fast drive and more space. If you’re using Final Cut Express you’ll have to stick with the DV codec.’
Tom’s way provides for a higher quality file that does not need to be re-rendered, HOWEVER it is a much larger file size to work with. Some readers have reported that they do not need to re-render using either method.
Thank you Tom for adding to this discussion! You rock!
***UPDATE OVER***
Back to the post:
First:
Install the 3ivx codec found in the Flip Video camera itself: ‘System’ folder —>’Install’ folder —> Macintosh 3ixv Installer.dmg or Windows 3ivx Installer.exe
This will allow Quicktime to play and export your Flip Video files.
Second:
Open all of the Flip Video files you want to convert in Quicktime.
Go to: File —> Export —> In this box make sure it says “Movie to QuicktimeMovie” in the export tab at the bottom.
Click on ‘Options’ next to the “Movie to QuicktimeMovie” box.
Video:
On the Video part of the dialog box click on ‘Settings.‘
Use these settings:
At the top where it says Compression Type click on ‘H.264′
Frame rate: Current
Keyframes: Automatic
Frame reordering: check this box
Date Rate: Automatic
Optimized: for Downloading
Compressor: Best
Close this dialog box.
Now click on the Sound settings button:
Sound:
Use these settings:
Format: AAC
Channels: Mono
Rate: 44.100 khz
Render—> Quality: Normal
Mpeg 4 AAC LC Encoder Settings—> Target Bit Rate: 128 kbps
***When you export your Flip Video files to the H.264 format it’s a good idea to rename them something memorable like “Steve discussed blogging.mov” for later reference when you import these files into Final cut Pro.***
Good luck everyone!
Kirk
*UPDATE* A tip from Adriana:
You have to install the firmware FIRST, because otherwise you get the white screen.
*UPDATE* A tip from P.F. Bentley:
Use the Batch mode in MPEG StreamClip. I use H264 codec and Multipass is checked which lowers the file size by half if you don’t use it. This way the computer does the work and I can go do something else.
14 Comments
Kirk, you have to check this out… this site is pretty cool: http://www.storyplanet.com/
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Hey Kirk!
I just noticed that you were working on a guide to better filmmaking. Let me know if you need a hand proofreading, etc.
Mike P.
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Thanks for everyone’s comments! I think I’m going to do a 301 re-direct soon, and get my old domain traffic switched to here. And start blogging again. It takes ALL my time to set up this new blog
You can see I am not a natural born coder….yet.
-Kirk
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Congrads on getting hitched! That’s great news for both of you!
…. on the video side of things. Do you think that the availability of new, smaller cameras might spark an re-emergence of direct or observational-style documentaries? Just a thought I had this weekend.
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Hey Kirk,
Here is another link to a group that you need to check out. http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/making-it-easier-to-make-a-movie/
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Thanks Mike! It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I will have Robin in my life forever. She is awesome.
Also- Thanks for the great links, it appears that the barriers to entry in the film world are crumbling fast.
We will have a huge increase in the breadth and depth of creative indie films as these walls crumble.
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Help, I can’t find the 3ixv Installer.dmg. I have FlipVideo and FlipShare4.1.2 mounted on my iMac. I can find the system folder, but inside there is a Viewer folder, no Install folder. The software was upgraded today.
I am in the same situation with wanted to edit the Flip video with Final Cut Express.
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Please Help! I have tried everything. My Flip videos play fine in Quicktime. When I export them as quicktime movie files they Fail. I get the error code – Failed: qtKitErrorCatchAll (-50). I’ve downloaded Quicktime components and have Perian and Flip4Mac. I just want to improt them with sound into imove 09 to edit. They import but do not show up. Can anyone help with this?
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I think its a great work & it certainly will make many realise that how precious their love is.
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I used the 3ivx demo a few weeks back and now all my mpeg 4 have a full-screen bug across the screen, even ones that never touched 3ivx. I can’t buy the program since the store is offline and the uninstaller doesn’t work at all. I think this is scam-ware. I’d advice no one use it.
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I have a flip video camera and meda ultra hd error code 10 when connecting to the USB port. as I fix it? Thank you.
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This did not work for me. Primairly because I do have flipshare installed but it has not affected Quicktime in any way to give it Export functionality. Even the software directly from 31VX does not make my Quicktime give any export menu items.
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Kirk Mastin Reply:
March 5th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Hi Amber,
What version of Quicktime are you using? The newest version from Apple is missing a lot of the functionality of earlier versions.
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Amber Sexton Reply:
March 5th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
I’m using version 10.0, so that’s probably the issue. But I did find a free program to convert the files. However it did not solve my particular weird little problem. Which was that final cut is adding 2.5 minutes of black at the end of my quicktime exports of sequences created with flip video. I am having exactly the same problem with all codecs of this video. But thanks for responding.
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thanks for sharing!!!
my video is only 30 seconds and it took me more than 1 hour still cant import to FPC, thanks a million!
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